Women's Track & Field

Gauchos Compete at Washington Invitational

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Members of the UCSB women's track and field team traveled to the University of Washington this weekend to compete at the Washington Invitational. This is the inaugural indoor season for women's track, and a group of sprinters and field athletes took part in the program's first indoor meet.

Kayla Smith had a good day in the shot put, finishing fourth in her section and fifth overall. Her best throw came on her first attempt, which hit 45-8 ½ (13.93m). Jean Lightfoot also competed in the shot, and she eclipsed her seasonal best from last year's outdoor season by throwing 42-11 ½ (13.09m). Her best mark came on her first attempt as well.

In the pole vault, freshman Tess Balcomb was able to clear 11-6 ½ (3.52m) at her first collegiate meet, which tied for sixth and was the third-highest bar cleared in section one. UCSB does not have an indoor marks list as of yet, but Balcomb's clearance would place her at fourth all-time on the UCSB outdoor marks list.

Some good first collegiate marks were also hit in the long jump. Freshman Tayler Williams took second in flight two, with her best jump measuring 17-4 (5.28m). Tamara Thomas was fourth in the same flight, with her mark measuring 17-2 (5.23m).

In the sprints, Dominique Augustus took second in her heat in the 400m, finishing with a time of 59.67. Barbara Nwaba also competed in the 400m, and she finished third in her heat with a time of 59.98.

Also noteworthy was Jane Doolittle's early-season clearance of 5-6 (1.68m) in the high jump, which tied six other athletes for the third-highest bar cleared in the competition.

The women will compete in one more indoor meet, the United Heritage Invitational on Feb. 6-7 in Boise, Idaho. The men's and women's outdoor seasons will begin on Feb. 21 with the Gaucho Round-Up, right here at Pauley Track on the UCSB campus.